Major arms haul on Bangladesh border

The Bangladesh authorities have recovered huge arms and ammunition from its northeastern Habigonj district adjoining Tripura, from a sanctuary that was believed to be once used by Indian separatist outfits.

In a special operation, the Rapid Action Battalion recovered 200 rocket launchers, anti-tank shells and more than 200 mortar shells from the remote Satchharhi jungles under Chunarughat Upazila on Tuesday

Satchharhi is only a few kilometres from the border with Tripura.

Briefing the media, RAB’s intelligence chief Col Ziaul Ahsan and its Legal and Media director Wing Commander Habibur Rahman have confirmed the seizure, saying the 200-odd rocket launchers were found in one huge bunker alone. Other weapons were found from the bunkers located on the hilltop. They suspect that a huge quantity of explosives might be found in the area. They, however, declined to comment on who might have stocked these weapons.

Experts keeping track of the Indian separatist campaign said the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) had in the past used the base in the Satchhari National Park to stock weapons.

Group Sites

Recent Article in South Asia

As Nepal’s Constituent Assembly goes into another deadlock, opposition parties led by the UCPN (Maoist) came out on the streets to protest. Where is this headed, and what role can India play in the peace process? Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai speaks to Diplomatic Editor Suhasini Haidar. »